Automatic life-preserver.



. MILLER.

AUTOMATIC LIFE PRESBRVER. APPLICATION FILED PEB.9, 1911.

Patented June 20,1911.

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i IIIIIIIIIIIII/III/III/l ATTORNEYS I WITNESSES U E. W. MILLER. AUTOMATIC LiPB PRESERVBR. APPLICATION FILED m 1911.

Patented June 20, 1911.

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EDWARD WATTS MILLER, OF MERBICK, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC LIFE-PRESERVER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Junie 2(1), lll llll Application filed February 9, 191 1. Serial No. 607,516.

. server, of which the following is a full, clear,

and exact description.

This invention relates to a new and improved automatic life preserver of a type adapted to automatically expand when the wearer falls or enters into the water, so as to buoy him up and prevent his sinking.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device which can be worn at all times when a person is ina boat, or in danger of falling into the water which will be out of sight and unobtrusive when not in actual use, and which, however, will immediately expand when the wearer goes into the water, so as to form a buoyant support whichwill prevent him from sinking, by means of a gas generated on entering the water, which is collected in a substan-- tially fluid-tight envelop.

Another ob ect of this invention is to provide a lifepreserver having an envelop, with a gas generator attached thereto adapted to contain a material, such as calcium carbid, which, on contact-with water, will generate a buoyant gas, to be collected in said envelop, said generator being so arranged that it will automatically admit a sufficient quantity of water to generate the gasloefore the gas starts to generate, and then shut off the incoming water so as to prevent the exit of gas to be generated, and simultaneously'open communication with the portion of the generator having the chemical therein, such as calcium carbid, so as to permit the genera tion of the gas.

A further object of this invention is to prevent the accidental tripping of the mechanism of agenerator for a life preserver, by inverting the same.

These and further objects, together with v the construction and combination of-parts,

will be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in'which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing members 5.

the position of the device on the wearer;

Fig; 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view, showing the communication between the chemical chamber and the rest of the generator closed and the inlet to the generator open; Fig. 3 is a section through the generator, similar to Fig. 2, showing the device after the water has entered, with the inlet to the generator closed and the passage between the chemical chamber of the generator and the remainder" of the generator open so as to permit the water to enter the chemical chamber, and the gases generated to pass out therefrom; Fig. dis a detail sectional view, showing the device inverted, with the lock in position for preventing the accidental tripping of the mechanism in case the generator is inverted; and Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Referring more particularly to the separate parts of this invention as embodied in the form'shown in the drawings, 1 indicates the gas-storing envelop, which may be of any suitable fluid-tight material, such as rubberized cloth or the like, andis adapted to be secured to the body in an inconspicuous manner by any suitable means, such as a plurality of straps 2, which cross the body, and which may be provided with suitable buckles for securing the ends together. This envelop, which is adapted to contain the buoyant gas for supporting the wearer in water, is provided with an inlet 3, which connects it with a suitable gas generator 4, This inlet 3 may be provided with any suitable type of check-valve, such as that commonly used on pneumatic tires, for permitting the ingress of the gas generated, and preventing its accidental egress. The generator 4 may be additionally connected to the envelop 1 in any suitable manner, so as to prevent the strain coming on the gas conmotion 3, as for example, by connecting The generator 4 is provided with a casing 6, which may be of any suitable character, such as the body portion 7, having a top 8 and a bottom 9 secured thereto in any suitable manner, asby means of detachable screw fastenings 10, which engage aligned ,openings in projecting portions of the bdy portion and the top and bottom.

The casing 6 may be divided in any suitable manner, as by means of a partition 11, into a plurality of chambers, one of which,

12, may be termed the main chamber, and

the other of which, 13, may be termed the [chemical chamber, in that itis adapted to contain-a suitable chemical, such'as calcium 5 carbid, which will, on contact with water,

generate a suitable gas, such as acetylene,

with which the envelop may be. inflated, so

as to permit a buoyant support of the device for the wearer, which will support him in water. An inlet for the casing 6 is provided, so that the water can enter the same when the device is placed in water.

let'is indicated at 14, and is shown as being located in the top of the generator, but may be in any other suitable part.

It will be noted that the partition 11 has an opening 15 therein, which forms a passage between the chamber 12 and the chamber 13, so that the water which enters by ,20 means of the inlet 14' can enter into the chamber 13 which contains the carbid. Thispassage 15, however, when the device is set for operation, is normally closed by means of a valve 16, which rests on the par- ?5 tition 11. The valve 16 has a sliding c0n nection with a spindle 17, which connection may be of any suitable, character,-for ex ample the telescopic and pin and slot connection shown, and also may be resilient, as

by means of the spring 18, which normally holds the valve 16 yieldingly on its seat. The upper end of the spindle 17 is provided with a valve 18, which is adapted to close the inlet- 14 to the generator. A

3 spring 19, or any other suitable means, may

- be provided, which is under a normal tendency to open the valve 16 and close the valve 18. This spring may be inclosed in a suitable casing 20, which protects the spring and at the same time guides the valve and spindle.- The valve spindle 17 and the valves 16 and 18 are locked in their lowermost position, so that the valve 16 is closed on its seat, by means of a latch 21, which is pivotally mounted at 121, and has a portion bent to form an arm 30, which engages a shoulder 22 on the spindle 17. This latch is adapted to be released by a tripper 23, a which is shown in the form of a float, which i i stance .is made of cork. It will thus be lseen that when sufficient water has entered the casing 6, so, as to raise the level of the water in the compartment 12 a sufficient dis,-

5 tance to buoy up the float 23, this float, act- 'ing as a tripper, will release the latch 21,

permitting the spring 19 to expand, thus opening the valve 16 and closing the valve v 18. This float is so positioned that when this action-takes place, a su'flicient quantity of water will have entered the generator to conibine with the chemical in the chamber 13, so as to permit a sufiicient quantity of gas to fill the envelop 1. In case the device should be accidentally inverted whileset for This in-' ay be of any suitable character, and in this use, itis desirable that the latch 21 should not be released by the tripper 23. There is therefore provided a lock 24, comprising a' pivotal bell crank lever, one arm of which is normally held out of contact with the tripper 23 when the generator is upright in its correct position, but which is adapted to be brought into engagement with the tripper 23, by means of a weight 25 secured to the other arm of the lever, which is brought in play by the inversion of the generator.

secured to the body of the person desiring to insure himself against accident, by means of the straps 2, the generator 4 having been previously charged with a suflicient quantity of a suitable chemical such as calcium carbid, by removing the bottom 9 and placing it in the chamber 13. The carbid is prevented from passingsnto the chamber 12 even if the valve 16 should be open, by means of the screen 27 for the passage 15.- Thevalve mechanism is then set so that the valve 16 is closed on its seat, and the valve 18 is open. 1

In case the person wearing this life preserver should by any chance come into the water, as soon as' the generator becomes immersed, the water will rush into the inlet 14. until a sufficient quantity has entered the compartment 12 to raise the float tripper 23. When this takes place, the latch'21 is released, and the valves 16' and 18-simultaneously respectively opened and closed, so that water is permitted to enter the com partment 13 and come in contact with the calcium carbid or other chemical therein, generating a suitable gas, such as acetylene gas, which will pass into the chamber 12' and thus into the envelop 1. Inasmuch as the valve 18 has been closed, no gas can escape from the generator except into the envelop 1.

It will thus be seen that a simple and eflicient life preserver will be formed, which will automatically be brought into active use.

While I have shown one embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the specific details thereof, but desire to be protected in various changes, alterations and modifications \vhich'may come within the scope of the appended claims.

--Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:-v

1. In a life preserver, the combination with an, envelop adapted to contain a fluid, of a generator connected to said envelop forgener'ating a as to fill said envelop, said generator havlng an inlet whereby water may enter therein, and also having a plurallocking said ity of chambers, with a communicating pas-1 sage between them,

spring for operating 'saidvalves, alatch for valves in a predetermined position, and a tripper for releasing said latch.

2. In a life pres'erver, the combination with an. envelop adapted to contain a fluid,

of-agenerator 'connectedto-said envelop for generator having an may enterthereln,

said tripper comprising a generating a gas to fill said envelop, said and also having a -plurallty of chambers, w th a con'nnuni'catlng passage between them, a valve for closing said inlet, a valve for ,closing said passage, a spr1ng for operating said valves, a latch for locking said valves in a predetermined position, and a tripper for releasing said latch,

floatadapted-to be manipulated by a quantity of water entering vsaid generator.-

spring for operating said ing said generator,

sage between them,

3. In .a life preserver, the combination with. an envelop adapted to contain a generating a gas to fill-said envelop, said may enter 'therein,- and also having a plural ity of chambers, with a, communicating pasof a generator connected to said envelop for; generating gas to fill said envelop, said generator having an inlet whereby' -water may enter therein-,and also having a plurab,

ity of chambers, with a communicating pasa valve for closing said inlet, a valvezior closing said passage, a spring for operating-said valves, a latch for.

locking said valves-in-a predetermined position, a tripper for releasing said latch, said tripper comprising a 'float adapted tobe a valve for. closing said inlet, a, valve for closing said passage, a

with an envelop adaptedto contain a inlet whereby water fluid, oi a' generator connected to said envelop for 25 7 generator having an inlet whereby water manipulated by a qnantity of water entering said generator, and a lock for preventing the accidental manipulation of said tripper, said lock being normally out of engagement with propererect position; I p

5. In a' life preserver," the, co.mb1nat1on of a gas generator adapted to supply the fluid to said envelop, said gas generatordi'aving a plurality of chamber'sseparated"from each other by means through, said gener-atorhaving an inlet permitting water from the outside of said g'enerator to flow into said generator, a valve having a passa'ge'there-.

said tripper when said generator. is in a for closing said inlet, a valve for closing said J I assa 'e a s in'dle connectin said valves a U 7 l b 1 resilient connection between one of said valves and said SplIldlG, a spring for manipulating said Valves, a

automatic tripper for releasing .said latch.

'6. In a .life preserver,

antfluid,"of a gas generator for generating the fluid for said envelop, connected l'.0 '$illd envelop, said gas generator having a chamber adapted to. accumulate a quantity of water, and also having a chemical chamber separated from Sitldfi-fiISDIIIGHtIOIIGd chamber by a partition-having a,passage'the1ethrough, said first-mentioned chamber having an dnletadaptedvto permit the water to enter the same, means for normally cutting off communication-=between said chambers,

and means for automatically closing said communication between saldchambers whena predetermined inlet and opening up quantity ofwater has entered said first- -mentioned chamber, whereby the water. in

said first-mentioned chamber may pass into said chemical chamber and. mix with the I chemicaltherein;

v latch forlocking said valves in a predeterm ned"posit1on, and an y the combination with an envelop adapted to contain a buoy- In test1mo ny whereof I have signed my nam to this specification in the presence of -two:subscribing witnesses. 

